Software Companies Writing Programs for GRiDPad
FREMONT, Calif. — October 10, 1989 — GRiD Systems Corp. on Tuesday announced that numerous software vendors are building applications for the handwriting and electronic pen interface capabilities of GRiDPad, its new 4.5-pound portable computer that recognizes printed handwriting.
Software developers writing applications include Sales Technologies of Atlanta, Modatech Corp., Vancouver, British Columbia, and Phoenix Call Reporting, Lincoln Park, N.J.
Sales Technologies is using the GRiDPad development tools to write programs for field sales and store survey personnel in the consumer goods distribution industry. Modatech is currently developing an order entry and route tracking program for route salespeople and a retail merchandising application for a major magazine publisher.
Phoenix is developing a customized application for use by pharmaceutical salespeople.
GRiD developers also are working with the U.S. Bureau of the Census to develop software that would replicate a pencil and paper questionnaire the bureau plans to use for a survey of employment data. The survey, to be conducted next spring, will test GRiDPad as an alternative to using paper-based questionnaire forms, according to Joe Riley, chief of the Census Bureau's Automation Implementation branch.
GRiDPad can run off-the-shelf PC programs, but to take full advantage of the pen interface these companies are converting their MS-DOS products to use the graphical user-interface tools provided by GRiD.
Data is entered into the computer with a tethered electronic pen that is touched to GRiDPad's LCD display screen. Signals are then transmitted to GRiDPad's software in a manner similar to a standard computer mouse.
To take full advantage of the electronic pen interface, the software companies are converting their MS-DOS products to use the graphical user interface tools provided by GRiD. Currently, no other user interface allows programmers to utilize an electronic pen interface to develop programs.
The GRiD tools allow programmers to quickly design forms that look exactly like paper forms. The user can then fill in the forms with the electronic pen, picking items from lists, checking boxes and writing directly into the fields. Handwritten data is instantly converted to ASCII characters.
In addition to recognizing handwriting, the electronic pen can be used to cross out and edit the contents of fields and capture signatures.
''We believe it is the most natural and easiest-to-use interface ever developed for a personal computer,'' said Ken Dulaney, marketing manager for the GRiDPad program.
Software developers developing programs for GRiDPad praised its software development tools.
''I thought the API and development tools were clear, straightforward and easy to use,'' said Les Hedger, a programmer with The SoftAd Group, a Sausalito developer of software-based graphical sales and marketing tools. SoftAd is developing sales support systems software for GRiDPad.
''I was creating programs the first day I started using the development and interface tools,'' Hedger said. ''The tools seem to be very comprehensive and flexible in the richness of the fields and the way the screens can be laid out and used.''
Other software vendors developing applications for GRiDPad include Dynatec Corp., Libertyville, Ill., Envoy Corp., Waltham, Mass., Compumark Corp., Newton Square, Pa., and Mannix Corp., Mineral Wells, Texas. Dynatec, Envoy and Compumark are writing a consumer products application while Mannix is developing an application for the oil and gas industry.
r2z Inc., Fremont, also is developing PadBase +, a software product that allows use of GRiD's handwriting input technology with dBase and programs compiled with Clipper, a dBase compiler. With PadBase +, GRiD expects that GRiDPad will appeal to the thousands of dBase programmers.
The GRiDPad development tools are based on the MS-DOS 3.3 operating system and the C programming language to allow programmers to use standard development tools to create their applications.
In addition to creating and displaying graphical forms, the GRiD tools can rotate the display output in any direction to accommodate left-handed users or to create applications that run in the vertical or ''portrait'' orientation. A special program allows non-programmers to modify applications or convert them to a foreign language.
GRiDForm is a tool that allows rapid design and testing of forms. Using a mouse, the designer can place and modify the elements of a form including fields, lists, check boxes, radio buttons, canvasses, fonts and other graphic objects.
GRiDMail API is a set of optional routines for programs that transmit data to the GRiD Gateway WAN server using store and forward batch processing.
The GRiDPad software development kit is available for $800. A separate license is available for non-development copies of the user-interface software.
GRiDPad program development training classes are conducted monthly. Interested software developers can contact GRiD and ask for Bill Weaver at 203/325-3011 or Ted Clark at 312/444-9575.
CONTACT:
GRiD Systems Corp., Fremont
D. Bruce Walter or Bob Goligoski, 415/656-4700